18/11/2014 Standing Committee
Belgium will play a leading role in the Council of Europe during its Chairmanship, says Speaker of the Senate
“Belgium sees this Chairmanship as an opportunity to play a leading role in the work of the Council of Europe in terms of promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” said Christine Defraigne, Speaker of the Belgian Senate at the opening today of the meeting of the PACE Standing Committee in Brussels.
“It is in this way that our country defends some of the priority issues which include the fight against the death penalty, protection of the rights of women, children and human rights defenders, combating all forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on sexual orientation, and the fight against impunity,” she said.